Xpadorians (eks•pä•dôr′ē•ənz) n. Expats in Ecuador

Safety and Security

I’m not going to debate the question “Is Ecuador safe?” (There is more than enough of that on the forums.) This is a detailed analysis from an international security expert on assignment for the United Nations World Food Programme. (He is currently employed as the Deputy Director Emergency and Preparedness with New York State, Department of Health.) In the first part of his risk assessments he discusses the various regions of Ecuador and ranks their security level. In Ecuador: Part 2 he analyzes the specific threat challenges. It should come as no surprise, based on the recent tragedies, that the number one threat to safety is road traffic accidents.

As Xpadorians we are most concerned with personal safety. At home, you know when and where to go and when and where not to go. Abroad, even if it’s not your first time, can be a downright stressful experience, especially if you are making a transition. Often times you may feel overwhelmed by your new surroundings, not to mention the culture shock, and because you are naïve it’s easy to make errors in judgment and trust the wrong people. These days, anywhere, everywhere, one needs to be aware at all times, use common sense and take precautions. If the hairs on the back of your neck go up pay attention and trust your instincts.

Now what can we do to protect ourselves. I want to recommend that everyone read Bob Arno’s “Travel Intelligence” and take a look at their fascinating blog Thiefhunters in Paradise. He and his wife Bambi study street crime against travelers. Mostly that means pickpockets, but also bag-snatchers, three-shell gamers, con artists, pseudo-cops, hotel crawlers, identity thieves and scamsters. They say it best: your first defense is awareness and a healthy dose of cynicism.